Composition for preserving leather



UNITED, STATES EATENT rricn.

COMPOSITION FOR PRESERVING LEATHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,880, dated December 11, 1883,

Application filed December 28, 1882. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT T. BARBER and J OHN BAKER, citizens of theUnited States, residing in the borough of Mifflinburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Composition for Softening and Preserving. Leather, of which the following is a specification.

Our composition consists of the following ingredients, combined in the proportions stated, to wit: best refined whale-oil, one gallon; clean rendered beef-tallow, ten pounds; beeswax, two ounces; alum, two ounces; pine-tar, four ounces; castor-oil, one ounce. The whale-oil and tallow are placed in a vessel together over a slow fire, and when the tallow is melted the beeswax, alum, tar, and castor-oil are added. The admixture should be kept over a steady fire at or near the boiling-point until all impurities are brought to the surface and removed, this process requiring from one to one and a half hour, and leaves the oil free from all tendency to gum when used.

In the manufacture of the oil,the test of sufficient boiling is to dip out a small portion into a cup, allowing it to cool, and if no scum or impure film rises and forms on the surface the oil is sufficiently boiled.

The above composition, prepared in the manner aforesaid, when applied to all kinds of finished leather-as harness, boots, shoes, belting, &c.will soften, preserve, and give life to the leather, and will not form a gum-a most important desideratum in any oil used upon belting.

' Before using the above composition, the leather should be thoroughly cleaned. using warm water applied with a cloth, and while the leather is yet slightly damp the oil, moderately warm, is applied with a sponge.

We are aware of thepatents of J. L. Baumer, No. 97,857, December 14, 1869, and J. B. Merrill, No. 77,069, April 21, 1868, and therefore do not seek' to claim them; but we are not aware that all the ingredients of-our composition in the proportions stated have been used together.

Having fully described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The herein-described compound for softening and preserving leather, consisting of Whaleoil, beef-tallow, beeswax, alum, pine-tar, and castor-oil, combined in substantially the pro portions specified.

ROBERT T. BARBER. JOHN BAKER. WVitnesses:

J AS. HAUS, JOHN A. BEARD. 

